US to deploy Patriot missiles, F-16 jets to Jordan

Michael Jordan From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search For other people named Michael Jordan, see Michael Jordan (disambiguation). Page semi-protected Michael Jordan Jordan Lipofsky.jpg Michael Jordan with the Chicago Bulls in 1997 No. 23, 12,[a] 45 Shooting guard Personal information Born February 17, 1963 (age 50) Brooklyn, New York Nationality American Listed height 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) Listed weight 216 lb (98 kg) Career information High school Emsley A. Laney (Wilmington, North Carolina) College North Carolina (1981–1984) NBA Draft 1984 / Round: 1 / Pick: 3rd overall Selected by the Chicago Bulls Pro playing career 1984–2003 Career history 1984–1993, 1995–1998 Chicago Bulls 2001–2003 Washington Wizards Career highlights and awards 6× NBA champion (1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1998) 6× NBA Finals MVP (1991–1993, 1996–1998) 5× NBA Most Valuable Player (1988, 1991–1992, 1996, 1998) 14× NBA All-Star (1985–1993, 1996–1998, 2002–2003) 3× NBA All-Star Game MVP (1988, 1996, 1998) NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1988) NBA Rookie of the Year (1985) 10× NBA scoring champion (1987–1993, 1996–1998) 3× NBA steals champion (1988, 1990, 1993) 10× All-NBA First Team (1987–1993, 1996–1998) All-NBA Second Team (1985) 9× NBA All-Defensive First Team (1988–1993, 1996–1998) NBA All-Rookie First Team (1985) 2× NBA Slam Dunk Contest champion (1987–1988) NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team #23 retired by Chicago Bulls and Miami Heat NCAA champion (1982) 2× Consensus NCAA All-American First Team (1983–1984) ACC Player of the Year (1984) Oscar Robertson Trophy (1984) Naismith College Player of the Year (1984) John R. Wooden Award (1984) Adolph Rupp Trophy (1984) Career statistics Points 32,292 (30.1 ppg) Rebounds 6,672 (6.2 rpg) Assists 5,633 (5.3 apg) Stats at Basketball-Reference.com Basketball Hall of Fame as player Medals[hide] Men's Basketball Competitor for the United States Olympic Games Gold 1984 Los Angeles Men's basketball Gold 1992 Barcelona Men's basketball FIBA Americas Championship Gold 1992 Portland Men's basketball Pan American Games Gold 1983 Caracas Men's basketball Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963), also known by his initials, MJ,[1] is an American former professional basketball player, entrepreneur, and majority owner and chairman of the Charlotte Bobcats. His biography on the National Basketball Association (NBA) website states, "By acclamation, Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time."[2] Jordan was one of the most effectively marketed athletes of his generation and was considered instrumental in popularizing the NBA around the world in the 1980s and 1990s.[3] After a three-season career at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was a member of the Tar Heels' national championship team in 1982, Jordan joined the NBA's Chicago Bulls in 1984. He quickly emerged as a league star, entertaining crowds with his prolific scoring. His leaping ability, illustrated by performing slam dunks from the free throw line in slam dunk contests, earned him the nicknames "Air Jordan" and "His Airness". He also gained a reputation for being one of the best defensive players in basketball.[4] In 1991, he won his first NBA championship with the Bulls, and followed that achievement with titles in 1992 and 1993, securing a "three-peat". Although Jordan abruptly retired from basketball at the beginning of the 1993–94 NBA season to pursue a career in baseball, he rejoined the Bulls in 1995 and led them to three additional championships (1996, 1997, and 1998) as well as an NBA-record 72 regular-season wins in the 1995–96 NBA season. Jordan retired for a second time in 1999, but returned for two more NBA seasons from 2001 to 2003 as a member of the Washington Wizards. Jordan's individual accolades and accomplishments include five MVP awards, ten All-NBA First Team designations, nine All-Defensive First Team honors, fourteen NBA All-Star Game appearances, three All-Star Game MVP awards, ten scoring titles, three steals titles, six NBA Finals MVP awards, and the 1988 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award. He holds the NBA records for highest career regular season scoring average (30.12 points per game) and highest career playoff scoring average (33.45 points per game). In 1999, he was named the greatest North American athlete of the 20th century by ESPN, and was second to Babe Ruth on the Associated Press's list of athletes of the century. He was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009. Jordan is also noted for his product endorsements. He fueled the success of Nike's Air Jordan sneakers, which were introduced in 1985 and remain popular today.[5] Jordan also starred in the 1996 feature film Space Jam as himself. He is the majority owner and head of basketball operations for the NBA's Charlotte Bobcats, having won a bidding war to buy controlling interest in the team from founding owner Robert L. Johnson. Contents 1 Early years 2 Professional career 2.1 Mid-career: Pistons roadblock 2.2 First three-peat 2.3 Gambling controversy 2.4 First retirement and baseball career 2.5 "I'm back": Return to the NBA 2.6 Second three-peat 2.7 Second retirement 2.8 Washington Wizards comeback 3 Olympic career 4 Post-retirement 5 Player profile 6 NBA career statistics 6.1 Regular season 6.2 Playoffs 7 Legacy 8 Personal life 9 Media figure and business interests 10 Honors and awards 11 See also 12 Notes 13 References 14 Further reading 15 External links Early years Michael Jordan's jersey in the rafters of The Dean Smith Center Jordan was born in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Deloris (née Peoples), who worked in banking, and James R. Jordan, Sr., an equipment supervisor. His family moved to Wilmington, North Carolina, when he was a toddler.[6] Jordan attended Emsley A. Laney High School in Wilmington, where he anchored his athletic career by playing baseball, football, and basketball. He tried out for the varsity basketball team during his sophomore year, but at 5'11" (1.80 m), he was deemed too short to play at that level. His taller friend, Harvest Leroy Smith, was the only sophomore to make the team.[7] Motivated to prove his worth, Jordan became the star of Laney's junior varsity squad, and tallied several 40-point games.[7] The following summer, he grew four inches (10 cm)[2] and trained rigorously. Upon earning a spot on the varsity roster, Jordan averaged about 20 points per game over his final two seasons of high school play.[8][9] As a senior, he was selected to the McDonald's All-American Team[10] after averaging a triple-double: 29.2 points, 11.6 rebounds, and 10.1 assists.[11] Jordan was recruited by numerous college basketball programs, including Duke, North Carolina, South Carolina, Syracuse, and Virginia.[12] In 1981, Jordan accepted a basketball scholarship to North Carolina, where he majored in cultural geography.[13] As a freshman in coach Dean Smith's team-oriented system, he was named ACC Freshman of the Year after he averaged 13.4 points per game (ppg) on 53.4% shooting (field goal percentage).[14] He made the game-winning jump shot in the 1982 NCAA Championship game against Georgetown, which was led by future NBA rival Patrick Ewing.[2] Jordan later described this shot as the major turning point in his basketball career.[15] During his three seasons at North Carolina, he averaged 17.7 ppg on 54.0% shooting, and added 5.0 rebounds per game (rpg).[8] He was selected by consensus to the NCAA All-American First Team in both his sophomore (1983) and junior (1984) seasons. After winning the Naismith and the Wooden College Player of the Year awards in 1984, Jordan left North Carolina one year before his scheduled graduation to enter the 1984 NBA Draft. The Chicago Bulls selected Jordan with the third overall pick, after Hakeem Olajuwon (Houston Rockets) and Sam Bowie (Portland Trail Blazers). Jordan returned to North Carolina to complete his degree in 1986.[16]